C.J. Stroud
Quarterback · Houston Texans
Panini Absolute Football #104
Year & Era
2023 — Modern Era/Chrome Era
Card Type
Base Rookie Card
Grade
8.5 (NM-MT+) estimated
Rarity
Common; high volume base rookie found in retail and hobby configuration.
Overall Assessment
A standard but essential rookie card of a future star; quality is good but needs a sleeve to maintain potential value.
Condition Grade
8.5 (NM-MT+) estimated
Centering Assessment
Front: 60/40 Top-Bottom, 50/50 Left-Right; moderately biased towards top edge.
Surface Condition
Near Mint; notable finger prints and minor light surface scratches visible near the logo.
Corner Condition
Bottom left corner shows minor whitening; other corners appear sharp but held by bare hand.
Edge Condition
Near Mint; minor chipping visible on the top black edge, typical for Absolute foil stock.
Print Quality
High saturation with typical Absolute foiling; black borders are prone to showing minor factory edge wear.
Estimated Value
$5.00 - $15.00 Raw; $30.00 - $45.00 PSA 9; $80.00 - $120.00 PSA 10
Comparison to Known Examples
This copy is average; centering is common for Absolute but the lack of protection (sleeved) puts it below gem-mint status.
Authentication Tips
Verify Panini logo on back and UV gloss; check for crisp text resolution on the player name and Texans logo.
Grading Recommendation
PSA is recommended for maximum resale, but only if the surface is cleaned and corners are pristine; otherwise, keep raw.
Red Flags
No significant red flags observed; card appears authentic but lacks immediate protective housing.
Provenance Notes
Distributed via 2023 Absolute Blaster, Mega, and Hobby boxes; quintessential "retail rookie" hit.
Historical Context
Stroud's 2023 rookie year is statistically one of the greatest in NFL history for a debut QB.
Market Trends
Strongly appreciating due to Stroud's Offensive Rookie of the Year performance and Texans' playoff appearance.
Investment Potential
Moderate for base; high volume makes it a 'buy' only in PSA 10 condition for long-term holds.
Similar Cards
2023 Panini Prizm #339, 2023 Donruss #339 (Rated Rookie), 2023 Mosaic #292.
Display & Preservation
Immediate recommendation: Place in a penny sleeve and top loader to prevent surface scratches and edge chipping.
Interesting Facts
Stroud became the youngest QB to win a playoff game in NFL history shortly after this card was released.